Links for February 2017

«Is progress inevitable? Is it natural? Is it fragile? Is it possible? Is it a problematic concept in the first place? Many people are reexamining these kinds of questions as 2016 draws to a close, so I thought this would be a good moment to share the sort-of “zoomed out” discussions the subject that historians like myself are always having.»

«The Vatican Climate Forest, to be located in the Bükk National Park,
Hungary, was donated to the Vatican City by a carbon offsetting company. The
forest is to be sized to offset the carbon emissions generated by the Vatican
during 2007. The Vatican's acceptance of the offer, at a ceremony on July
5, 2007, was reported as being "purely symbolic", and a way to encourage
Catholics to do more to safeguard the planet. No trees have been planted
under the project and the carbon offsets have not materialised.»
I'm fascinated by how purely symbolic "purely symbolic" can be.